A Centene Corp. subsidiary must pay a $100,000 fine after the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner said the insurer failed to improve possible network deficiencies.
Here are four things to know about the fine.
1. On Dec. 12, 2017, Washington state's insurance commissioner issued a cease and desist order against Coordinated Care Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene, due to an inadequate provider network for its individual policies. While it was lifted days later, Centene still faced a $500,000 fine for selling plans with too narrow of networks.
2. The Centene subsidiary admitted to not including enough anesthesiologists in four Washington counties where it sold plans. "According to the company's own data, its provider network is also seriously deficient in other categories of providers, including immunology, dermatology and rheumatology," Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said.
3. The Centene unit agreed to a compliance plan laid out by the commissioner. However, the Office of Insurance argued Coordinated Care still has not met all the requirements of the plan. The office claimed Coordinated Care didn't meet necessary deadlines, submitted provider contracts with illegal arbitration clauses and didn't fulfill state provider network requirements.
4. "The OIC remains committed to working with Coordinated Care to correct its outstanding issues and will continue weekly discussions with the company to review its progress. If the company continues to violate the compliance plan it agreed to, some or all of the remaining $900,000 fine may be imposed," the agency said.